Odisseia para Sirius (Ultranova, 2022)

This track, released in 2022 as a download single, confirms the Brazilian act Ultranova among the finest representatives of instrumental prog in the 21st Century. Their debut album Orion (2019) was a promising effort, but they seem to improve day to day. This "Odyssey to Sirius" is an epic and enjoyable piece of music, full of keybooard / guitar interplays, well found changes and liquid solos. 

A mythical journey, as this beautiful cover art...

Ultranova have their own style, but you'll find some Camel, Jade Warrior and Jethro Tull hints here, and a surprising melting pot including folk jeegs, electronic atmosphere and cinematic moments. Full of colours like their Country, rich in sense of wonder like their favourite music and tasty like their instrumantal skills, Ultranova's sound is the living proof that good prog rock will never die.

Formas-Pensamento (Violeta de Outono, 2012)

Just a few bands around the world chose the eclectic and winding road to prog this Brazilian band took. From their first psychedelic and Sixties-oriented albums to their latest prog releases, they created their own original and interesting musical world, each record adding some new ingredients to such a spicy recipe. This track opens the album "Espectro" (meaning "Spectre") and fluctuates in and out of space rock, folk ballads, classic prog and fusion with a surprisingly natural and mild mood.

"Espectro" was the sixth studio album by Violeta de Outono.

The soft vocals and the space rock touches provide the atmospheric part, while the instrumental breaks - solos and interplays - add a lively and thrilling side to the track. The psych roots are also there, along with a vague Italian Prog echo. Really, this is a great way to start an album and a brilliant, diversified example of eclectic prog.

Vagão 1 - Réquiem da louca (Trem do futuro, 1995)

I know this track by Brazilian band Trem do futuro won't meet my most adventurous friends' expectations, but I like some vintage and even derivative tracks now and then. In this case, I actually appreciate the dynamic texture of the music and the good changes in tempo and instruments. For example, what can I say of the flute and the electric guitar? Both are so well nestled into the electronic background and so naturally exploited!

"Trem do futuro" was the debut album by this interesting band.

The vocals also come in at the right time, singing a very well found theme and taking advantage of the double voice (masculine and feminine) line up. A lively and easy kind of prog with that special sunny touch I often find in Southern American groups. Just a final ramark: a better production should have been useful to this song and to the entire self-titled album. That said, this is a joyful and passionate way to keep on proggin'...

Kings And Knights (Aether, 1999)

This Camel-inspired Brazilian band is worth our attention because of their melodic work and their excellent taste for tempo changes. This short instrumental comes from their debut album "Visiones", a concept based on German castles and also featuring a long suite that I don't put here because I found it rather erratic in both structure and inspiration. The shorter tracks, however, are very good and this one is full of visual descriptions and passionate guitars.

As this cover art will prove, Aether like atmospheric moods.

 

Andrew Latimer would be proud of Vinicius Brazil's work, but there is more than this. The way these musicians change the rythms preserving the fairy atmosphere of the song is also a highlight of "Kings And Knights" and of other tracks from the album as well. If you won't find many innovative choices here, you'll surely appreciate the warm and coherent mood of the track. A good reason to listen to Aether's music, IMHO.

Armina (Som Imaginário, 1973)

Born as a backing band to Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento, Som Imaginário soon began their own career, including at least one excellent prog rock release, the album bearing the fierce title "Matança do porco" (that's "Pig Slaughter" in English...). This actually stands as a progressive highlight in Bazilian '70s rock scene. The song "Armina" perfectly represents the beautiful fusion of jazz, classic and pop-rock elements the band chose as their musical trademark.

This progressive release was the third album by Som Imaginário.

Full-bodied passages and intimistic piano sections follow one another in a colourful and enthralling plot, where acid guitars, pulsing rythms and essential keyboards act as one. It is a highly original kind of music, with no predominant inspirations, and open to many different solutions and even to conflicting moods. But as Brazilian musicians rarely go too experimental, although unusual and new, this instrumental is still a fully enjoyable piece of music!

The Central Sun of The Universe (Sagrado Coração da Terra, 1991)

This is the only song with English lyrics from the album "Farol da liberdade", one of the finest achievements by Sagrado Coração da Terra, violinist and composer Marcus Viana's band. It's a rather long piece of music, lasting more than 11 minutes, featuring a good deal of themes and several mood changes. As usual with Viana, melodies play the leading role and they're set into the plot with good taste and pleasant variety.

 

Marcus Viana (with his violin) and his "Sagrado" friends.

Another winning point of this song is the stunning series of vocal harmonies, adding a pastoral touch to the big picture, along with the flute solo. Of course, the violin also comes in and it lightens somehow the atmosphere, that's a warm and comfortable one, while the piano provides a delicate (but never too much) accompaniment. A Latin, (better: Brazialian) approach to prog rock that I always appreciate and hope you'll listen with pleasure too.

Inter vivos (Quantum, 1983)

Back to Brazilian prog, I recommend you this instrumental track coming from Quantum's also instrumental self-titled debut album, released in 1983. It's a Camel-inspired work with the grace and the melodic charge of its model, but also with an original taste for rich and warm atmospheres. I'm grateful to Road Runner label for their re-issue of such a rare LP, virtually impossible to find outside Brazil.

The LP cover art. The band came back in 1994with !Quantum II".

These musicians surely knew how to change tempo and rythm as you'll see in the central section of "Inter vivos", when a lively giga comes in, adding a Genesis-like touch to the big picture. But likely the most interesting feature of this track is the constant and ever-changing interplay between Fernando Costa's keys and Reynaldo Rana Jr's guitars... that's what I call prog!

Este é o lugar (Terreno Baldio, 1976)

What if Gentle Giant were born in Brazil? Strange question, maybe, but we can try a good answer thanks to this Brazilian band. "Este é o lugar" ("This Is The Place") comes from their debut self named album and has the strong, unpredictable, jazzy and symphonic flavour of the Giant. Even the vocal harmonies could be compared with those of the British prog masters. But, of course, if you like such a complex, eccentric and diversified music, you can't really be considered as a derivative band.

This debut album was re-recorded in English in 1993.

Terreno Baldio, as a matter of fact, have all the fantasy and all the colourful creativity they need to be a world apart in the South-American prog scene. Their interplays are fascinating and highly dynamic, their sung themes are suspended and effective and they even know how to include in this song - and in many other ones - a good pinch of Brazialian music. That's why I can state here that listening to this track was a special and brand new experience to me. Just do it you too.

Ilusões (Tésis Ársis, 2002)

A one-man band from Brasil, this Tésis Ársis in the brainchild of Anderson Rodrigues and offers long instrumental tracks, like this "Ilusões", a rather atmospheric epic lasting some 12 minutes and based on ethereal keyboards and well played electric guitars. Sure, this is not a musical revolution, but it's full of real emotions, something I'd like to find in all prog rock tracks.

The debut album by Tésis Ársis includes five long tracks.

The leading guitar has a beautiful, sad touch, something between Hackett and Gilmour, I'd say. Anderson plays all instruments and is also responsible for the drum programming. The main theme is well exploited and the atmospheric bridges are also pleasant. If you like dreaming guitar-driven prog, this is definitely for you.

Criaturas da noite (O Terço, 1975)

O Terço recorded the album "Criaturas da Noite" in 1975 and this still can be considered their best LP. It was one of those enlightened pop albums where melodies and discreet prog elements coexisted with the special grace and the simple arrangements that single out many South-American bands. The title track is a slow, delicate ballad enriched by an orchestral bridge and effective vocal harmonies.

Of course, if you're into tricky or experimental music, please choose another post (or even another blog: I'm not a jealous guy!), but if ever you like - from time to time - an easy and not trivial song, a caressing theme and a nocturnal mood, this is the song for you. Enjoy, then.

Vulcano (Index, 2004)

Do you like vintage sounds and dynamic prog instrumentals? If you do, here you are the opening track of the album "Identitade". This is by an excellent Brazilian band called Index and actually this music brings me back to the good ol' prog days. Nonetheless, there are many original touches in "Vulcano" I'd like to stress here. 

 

With "Identitade", Index released their third studio work.

The symphonic parts are cleverly mixed with some jazzy influences and in the melodic sections it seems to me like Genesis met Camel somehow, somewhere. These four musicians are excellent: the guitar and keyboard solos can't hide the puzzling rythm section work. No time for useless embroideries: all passages, even the richest ones, are aimed to a coherent and enjoyable plot, an exciting and never self-indulgent architecture. Try it, my prog friends, I'm sure you'll like it.

Twin Sunrise (Dogma, 1995)

What a beautiful track, this "Twin Sunrise" is! Just my opinion, of course, but please listen to the dynamic intro and I bet you'll decide to go on. Good idea, as this song is one of the best achievements of Brazilian act Dogma, that's responsible for two very good albums released during the '90s. The tempo changes are one of the most known features of these musicians, and so are the electronic effects, something between Jean-Michel Jarre and Rick Wright.

I like both Dogma's studio works. Unfortunately this was the last one.

All the sounds are highly suggestive and "Twin Sunrise" includes some sampled Peruvian flutes, a Gilmour-esque electric guitar, an effective drumming, a brilliant piano and so on. Most of all, this instrumental track is full of musical landscapes, but it never goes ambient, firmly keeping its prog rock mood. Even if the song lasts some 12 minutes, I hardly realize it's a long one... on the contrary, I do think it ends up too soon. Will it be the same with you?

Buscando algo de novo (Spin XXI, 2006)

Here you are a very late debut album for a Brazilian band whose roots go back to the '70s. They disbanded, re-united, changed their name al least two times... and finally they released the album "Contraponto" in 2006. A very good example of vintage prog revisited and empowered with some modern devices. After all, this track is called "Buscando algo de novo", something like "Searching for Something New". And there is something new, I think, especially in the theatrical and passionate performance of vocalist Kakao Figueiredo, but also in some of the guitar effects.

"Contraponto" also was one of the band's previous names.

Luckily for an old man as I am, many other things are well known and very good: the mood changes, the fusion od acoustic and electric instruments, the effective keyboards and a good deal of melodies. The moment I like above all the rest is the Banks-like keyboard solo just before the final section, that also is a recommended highlight of this song. So, if you feel like diving into the old prog sea, please, enjoy yourself.

Index II (Index, 2004)

Index are a very interesting Symphonic rock band from Brazil, as this suite, coming from the album "Identidade", likely will prove. Leaded by guitarist Jones Junior of Quaterna Réquiem fame, and keyboardist Otaviano Kury, those musicians like a vintage prog full of Hammond and Mellotron, but also dreamy guitar solos, flutes and a very good rythm section. All this track - split into four parts -  is equally divided between this lovefor the past heroes and a genuine quest for intricate plots and inner landscapes.

"Identidade" is the band's third studio album. 

Some passages are actually excellent, like the bass guitar solo starting around minute 9:10 or the following wall of sound graciously introduced by the flute. Everything is as it used to be, but there's that special freshness coming from Youth conviction and that bright taste springing out of the pleasure they enjoy by playing their music. A good trip into a past era we all love.

Limites (AlexL, 2004)

The Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and composer Alexandre Loureiro released his only solo album "Triz" with a crowd of other musicians in 2004 and it seems to me this record still represents an original and eclectic approach to progressive rock. Take this track, called "Limites" ("Limits" in English), for example. It starts like a Genesis' Trespass-era song, including pleasant vocals in Portuguese, then an instrumental bridge reminds me of Robert Fripp's most dreaming moments.

"Triz" includes 12 sketches exploring many sides of prog.

When vocals come back, the harmonies sound a little like Gentle Giant, then the delicate folkish touch comes in once again to end up the song like a fairytale. Many influences, but a strong, definite personality re-interpretating the whole prog history in a modern and essential way. I actually recommend this song - and the album too - to all my most open-minded friends.

Pantanal (Sagrado Coraçao da Terra, 1991)

Many Brazilian prog bands love to mix as many different musical approaches as they know about in their style. And this is particularly true for Sagrado Coraçao da Terra, also called Sagrado, set up by ex Saecula Saeculorum member Marcus Viana. Take this "Pantanal", taken from the "Farol da liberdade" album.

This was the third studio album by Sagrado.

This song was very popular in Brazil as it was part of the soundtrack of the soap opera called "Kananga do Japão" and includes folk roots, romantic melodies, sweet instrumental and rather symphonic interludes, a rock passage and then, of course, very Brazilian lyrics describing the Pantanal region with loving accents. A mostly slow, liquid, never boring track featuring a warm atmosphere and all the deep feelings of its author.

Preludium (Quaterna Réquiem, 2012)

Quaterna Requiem is a Brazilian band whose core members are keyboardist Elisa Wiermann and drummer Claudio Dantas, not to mention Kléber Vogel's splendid violin. They produced some very good albums, like "O Arquiteto", whose opening track "Preludium" I'm introducing here. It's an eleven minutes instrumental track (weel, the whole album has no vocals), full of epic and also romantic atmosphere, gradually rising up from the piano intro through the guitar-driven middle part to the keyboard festival  finale.

This is Quaterna Réquiem's fourth studio album.

There's no definite melody in this song, but its architecture is excellent, with different sections following one another, liked by keys and a measured mood, never too morn and never too bombastic. I like the keys, the guitars and their original interplays in this track, and I also recommend it for its exciting cavalcade rythm, something classical and modern in the same time. They didn't change prog history those guys, but they surely added something good to it.

The City And The Crystal (Tempus Fugit, 1997)

The word crystal in the title says it all about this 7 minutes song taken from the Brazilian band Tempus Fugit (what does this name remind me of ?) debut album, "Tales from A Forgotten World" (no, not "from Topographic Oceans"...). This is a transparent, classic, melodic prog track, mostly instrumental, including a great work on keyboard background effects and a fluid, even moving melody neatly played on electric guitar by Henrique Simoes.

Tempus Fugit released three studio albums to date.

 

The piano adds its own soul to the track and André Mello shows up his classical touch. The tempo changes are very interesting, as the sound sweetly switches up and down, exploring a pleasant, lush and colourful universe. The short sung section (with English lyrics), almost hidden towards the end of the track, perfectly closes up the song, confirming the clear and full blended taste of this musical cup of tea. Drink it, my friends, drink it and enjoy it!

Resurrection Day (Blue Mammoth, 2011)

Blue Mammoth is a new and interesting Brazilian band, whose mix of melody and energy immediately intrigued me. Take this "Resurection Day", for example. It's a solid, traditional rock ballad, a slow tempo song with a beautiful guitar work and sung by Andre Micheliwith passion and inner strength.

A very beautiful cover art for Blue Mammoth's debut.

 

The dreaming guitar of Cesar Aires is also a winning point, so full bodied and so sensitive. Blue Mammoth go back to prog roots here, and if thete's a resurection in this song, it's the soul-prog coming back to life with a brand new brilliance. So, this track is kind of Procol Harum meet Dream Theater and the final effect is really good. If you think prog is an intellectual music with no room for passion, well, this song will make you think better.

Miragem (Bacamarte, 1983)

This beautiful instrumental track belongs to “Depois do fim”, the only album of the Brazilian band Bacamarte, and a higly rated record by the International progfans core. This “Miragem” features virtually all the main points  of traditional symphonic rock: blazing keyboards, dreaming guitars, a creative rhythm section and – a welcome bonus – even an Arabic taste.

 

Bacamarte were born in 1974, but their sole record

was released ten years later.

 

The musicians’ performance is excellent and the band’s intricated plots and multiple interplays are simply stunning. There’s a scent of PFM and a taste of Yes, but also a vague and pleasant Southern colour, adding life and sun to the music. Last but not least, this track is a living testimony of the surprising and persistent worldwide diffusion of prog rock.